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COLUMBUS, Ga., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) today announced the presentation of the first-ever AACR Career Development Award for Childhood Cancer Research, endowed by Aflac to aid in the fight to cure pediatric cancer. The award, which includes a two-year grant of $55,000 per year, was presented at AACR's Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., to Dr. Charles G. Mullighan, a hematologist and hematopathologist pursuing research in the area of molecular biology of acute leukemia. Dr. Mullighan conducts his research at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a world-renowned cancer research facility located in Memphis, Tenn.
Dr. Mullighan was recommended for the Career Development Award by Dr. James R. Downing, scientific director and chairman of the Pathology Department at St. Jude. Dr. Downing noted that Dr. Mullighan as an outstanding candidate for having conducted a three-year pioneering study performing genomic profiling of pediatric acute leukemia.
"At Aflac, we believe that the road to conquering cancer is paved by the best and brightest of our young scientists," said Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos. "Aflac is proud to provide this endowment, which will enable young cancer research pioneers to continue their studies until we find a cure."
Praising Aflac's alliance, AACR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), said, "For the past decade, Aflac has invested in helping young scientists and doctors get the training they need at our national meetings. Now, they have taken a giant step by supporting researchers in childhood cancers. Together, AACR and Aflac will make a difference in the lives of patients and their families."
In addition to the Career Development Award for Childhood Cancer
Research, Aflac is a longtime supporter of the AACR's Scholar in Training
Awards program, having contributed more than $1 million since 1997 and
given more than 75
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